Attachment for a nonfogging glazing panel



Feb. 23, 1937.

F. J. BARTUSKA ET AL ATTACHMENT FOR A NONFOGGING GLAZING PANEL Filed Aug. 30, 1935 UNTED STATES PATENT OFFCE ATTACHMENT FOR A NONFOGGING GLAZING PANEL Frank J. Bartuska and Emil E. Bartuska, Riverside, Ill.

Application August 30, 1935, Serial N o. 38,542

3 Claims.

Our present invention relates to an attachment for a non-fogging glazing panel.

As will be seen by reference to United States Patent No. 1,989,305, dated January 29, 1935, we have heretofore provided such a panel consisting of two sheets of glass so arranged that they may move slightly nearer together or further apart so as to compensate the pressure developed by the change of volume of the dry or anhydrous air contained between the sheets of glass produced by changes of temperature. The manner of compensation described in the aforementioned patent has been found to be practically satisfactory with the ordinary sizes of glazing panels, but, with very large glazing panels, that is, glazing panels of large surface, the weight and flexibility of such large pieces of glass, as well as the much larger vo-lume of dehydrated or dry air necessary, renders other means for taking care of the changes of pressure of the enclosed dehydrated air necessary.

We are aware that apparatus for drying and supplying dehydrated air has already been provided, but, in addition to the drying and supplying of dehydrated air to a glazing panel it is our object to maintain between the sheets of glass in the glazing panel a sub-atmospheric pressure. We have found that a rareed air, that is, an air under sub-atmospheric pressures, not only is liable to conta-in less moisture but is also a v better heat insulator. Of course, when Very cold temperatures obtain the dehydrated air between the sheets of glass in the panel, when the panels are of large sizes, will be so reduced in volume that unless additional dry air is admitted to the panel the external pressure will force the sheets of glass inwardly to a dangerous eX- tent.

And, again, where very high temperatures obtain the dry air between the sheets of glass will be so expanded as to force the sheets of glass outwardly unless some of the contained or included air be permitted to escape.

But, as will hereafter be seen, we have produced a. structure which will permit portions of the enclosed or included air to escape at very high temperatures and will permit dry or anhydrous air to enter at very low temperatures but between the high and low temperature limits our device will maintain a sub-atmospheric pressure between the sheets of glass in the glazing panel, which has been the object of our invention.

55 We have attained this object by means of the (Cl. 18S-4) structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a central, vertical section through ourair drying and pressure operated device.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device associated with a fragment of a nonfogging panel to a smaller scale than that employed in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmental detail, to an enlarged scale, of the assembly of the breather pipe with the glazing panel. 10

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the respective views.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 3, the glazing panel consists of sheets of glass 5 5 held in spaced relation by aI peripheral frame formed of 15 relatively rigid rails 6, through the bottom one of which rails passes, and into which is screwed,

a breather pipe 'I, the other end of which connects with our device now to be described.

The device includes a casing 8 of cylindrical, 2O or any other suitable form, with a seamed or otherwise sealed bottom Il and a removable top closure Hl, which may be sealed when in position by means of a suitable air tight compound. Within the casing are a suitable number of annuli lI of suitable widths which are employed for positioning and spacing and maintaining a desired number of foraminated or woven partitions I2. The top pair of partitions I2, lo-

Cil

cated a suitable distance below the top of `the .,0 I

casing 8 contain between them suitable air u ltering material I3, such as absorbent cotton or layers of a suitable treated fabric. Between each of the pairs of partitions I2 below the top pair of partitions, We dispose a suitable dehydrating agent I4, such as anhydrous calcium chloride, which commonly comes in an irregularly granular condition.

The inlet to the casing 8 is located, preferably, in. the center of the bottom 9 thereof and com- 40 prises a nipple I5 secured in and suitably secured to the bottom 5 in the outer end of which nipple is screwed a valve casing I6 containing a ball valve Il pressed outwardly towards its seat by a coil spring I8, which coil spring is held from escaping from vthe valve casing by means of the annulus I 9. The outer end of the valve casing I6 is provided with a cup 20 having a strainer covering 2I, the top whereof is a strainer 2Ia and the inner end' of the nipple I5 is provided with a 50 shield 22, the under portion of which is slotted,

at 23, to permit the passage of air.

From the above description it will be seen that air pressure within the casing 8 will have to decrease not only below outside atmospheric pressure, but also and in addition below the tension of the spring I8 before air will displace the ball valve I1 and enter the casing.

We have also shown the bottom 9 of the casing 8 provided with a port 2a closed by a plug 25 which will be found desirable in servicing the apparatus.

The outlet from the casing 8 is preferably provided in the center of the top I and consists of a nipple 26, the outwardly extending end whereof is screwed into one end or a T-tting 21, into the opposite end of which is screwed a valve casing 28 very similar to the valve casing i6 except that the ball valve 29 thereof seats with the combined pressure of the spring Sil and the pressure of the atmosphere.

A shield 3l, similar in all respects to the Shield 22, is screwed upon the outer end of the valve casing 28. Screwed into the late ral stub 32 of the T-tting 21 is the nipple 33 of a union to which is joined the lower end of the breather pipe 1.

All air entering past the ball valve I1 passes through the layers H3 of the dehydrating agent and through the air iilter I3 before it can flow through the breather pipe 1 between the plates 5 of the glazing panel. Moreover, the air entering the casing 8 and reaching the glazing panel will be appreciably under or lower than atmospheric pressure by reason of the action of the spring i8. This sub-atmospheric pressure will be maintained until peak high temperatures develop, when, if pressures are developed by such high temperatures, greater than atmospheric preszures, air may escape through the action of the ball valve 29. Such a device needs very little servicing. Once every year or every two years is generally sufficient.

It will be noticed by reference to Fig. 2 that the casing 8 is located beneath the glazing panel which has this desirable result. Very little Incisture remains in the dehydrated attenuated air in the casing 8 and between the sheets of glass of the glazing panel, and condensation only takes place in the coldest portion of this air. The coldest portion of the air is, oi course, the heaviest and as it cools it gravitates through the breather pipe 1 into the casing 8 so that any possible condensation takes place in the casing where it does not tend to obscure or spoil the appearance of the glazing panel.

Having described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a glazing panel having an air space, means for supplying to the air space of said glazing panel dehydrated air under less than atmospheric pressure and permitting the escape of air therefrom under pressures produced by high temperatures, comprising a casing, locating and separating annuli mounted within said casing, spaced foraminated partitions located by said annuli, dehydrating and filtering elements disposed between adjacent pairs of said partitions, an inlet port in the bottom of said casing, a valve controlling said inlet port opening with atmospheric pressure and against spring pressure thereby requiring the existence of substantially sub-atmospheric pressure upon the nside of said valve to cause it to pass air, an outlet port from said casing, a valve controlling said outlet port seating under the combined action of atmospheric and spring pressures and a tube establishing communication between the interior of said casing and the air space in said glazing panel.

2. In combination with a glazing panel having an air space, means for supplying to the air space of said glazing panel dehydrated air under less than atmospheric pressure and permitting the escape oi air therefrom under pressures produced by high temperatures, comprising a casing, spaced foraminated partitions mounted within said casing, dehydrating and ltering elements l disposed between pairs of said partitions, an inlet port in the bottom of said casing, a valve controlling said inlet port opening with atmospheric pressure and against spring pressure, an outlet port from said casing, a valve on the top of said casing controlling said outlet port seating under the combined action of atmospheric and spring pressures and a tube establishing communication between the interior of said casing and the air space in said glazing panel.

3. In combination with a glazing panel having an air space, means for supplying to the air space of said glazing panel dehydrated air under less than atmospheric pressure, said means including a passage containing hydroscopic material and having a valve controlled inlet from the atmosphere, the action of which valve is balanced so that the valve closes when the pressure within the passage containing the hydroscopic material has reached a predetermined degree below atmospheric pressure, and a second valve for permitting the escape of air from the glazing panel under pressures produced by high temperatures.

FRANK J. BARTUSKA. EMIL E. BAR'IUSKA. 

